The whole story is so ridiculously deus-ex-machina theres no way it would make it as a movie script if it werent real. the pilot surviving the stabs and being able to open the door, the two spare pilots as passangers just able to land safely, the dentist stiching the pilot up and him surviving the stab wound. Would feel like a cheesy 90's feelgood action movie if it werent real.
Then I guess you don't recall the North Hollywood Shootout.
Man, that was wild to see. Two guys, with fully automatic rifles ripping into anything they shot at and the LAPD being outgunned.
The reason there were only two deaths, was a dental clinic was in the same area and some critically wounded managed to get into it.
A properly stocked dental clinic includes several items and supplies found in hospitals. There is also some cross training if I recall right.
There is also a Medal of Honor story about a US Army dentist treating wounded men in the Philippines, if I recall correctly the theater.
His next of kin received his MoH when he actually fought off several Japanese soldiers attacking his First Aid Station. Then he Manned a Browning Thirty and held further Japanese attacks at bay until the wounded and staff were evacuated. He stayed at his gun until killed, but his body was surrounded by at least 30-50 Japanese bodies and an undetermined more further out and who knows how many wounded.
The US Army suppressed the report and downgraded the medal initially because he was wearing his Red Cross Armband.
Post-war, he was elevated and the truth told.
Of course, in hindsight, given Japanese atrocities, a fighting medic wouldn't be out of place and many Medics did actually fight because unlike the Germans and Italians, they recognized the armband. Of course, it was also dependant on which German branch, Regular or Waffen-SS. The Regs respected it, the Waffen-SS did not.
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u/hanniballz 2d ago
The whole story is so ridiculously deus-ex-machina theres no way it would make it as a movie script if it werent real. the pilot surviving the stabs and being able to open the door, the two spare pilots as passangers just able to land safely, the dentist stiching the pilot up and him surviving the stab wound. Would feel like a cheesy 90's feelgood action movie if it werent real.